The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-03-11
Written for The MONITOR.
THE COLOSSAL HINDRANcE TO
CITY EyANGEIIZA1I0N

MRS. Pa NNIE II. CARR.
Early last fall a movement was mangu-
rated in the City of Brotherly Love, (since
followed in other cities, ito bring the Cos
pei to every man, woman and child with
in its limits. The whole city was dis
tricted. Committees and subcommittee
Of the representative clergymen and lay
men We're formed. Men of marked ability
and experience We're utilized in the prose-
cution Of this work. Clear brains and
sanctified tact were alike laid under con
tribution. Several months OF precious
time were consumed in discussion of plans.
conferences, etc But so far as our obser-
Walton extended we failed to discover the
least hint concerning the gigantic crime
Of crimes. the legalized liquor traffic.
which in our humble Judgment is the
colossal hindrance in tie way of Christ's
cause and kingdom. Think of it for mo-
ment-G500 licensed dram shops, against
600 churches. The churches open but
few hours each week, the saloons open
seven days in week. and in some cases
twenty-four hours ofthe day. The teachings
OF the pulpit, prayer meeting ard Sunday
school most effectualIy neutralized by the
almost omn:present and potent bar room
The commandments of Holy Writ CON
corning profanity, misunderstanding, etc,
thoroughly displaced and set at naught by
the counter-teachings of the saloon. Our
reformed men tell us what many knew
previously, that in exact proportion to the
increase Of drinking habits do men reeede
from church and holy influences. They are
as closely related as cause and effect, indeed
they are cause and effect Beside their own
personal absence from church in large
numbers, their families are obliged to
absent themselves, even if for no other
reason than the need of suitable apparel.
This is an age demanding demonstration
and hence an object lesson may be timely
Among the scores of men in our city hap
PLY emancipated by Divine Power from
bondage to strong drink, the large major
ity found themselves, in very short time,
as members of some one of the churches
Nor did they come alone, but bringing
their families with them, so that it was
usual thing to find the respective church
and school an addition to its membership
of from four to six persons. Nor was this
change merely spasmodie. To-day in sew
erai of the churches of our city, among
THAR cfaunci.aS+ paa1,barS ~. ON, ,-adaanaa,l
mea and their families. Mem who afore-
time We're not only a curse to themselves
and an incabus TO society, now not only Law
abiding and respectable citizens but, better
still, fellow citizens with the saints and
of the household of God. Surely it log
zeal proposition that if such glorious re-
snlts followed in certain number of
cases, the aggregate effect of the doing
away of the colossal hindrance to the
church of Christ would be far more glo-
rious. If this be the case. it seems to the
writer like upreme folly 10 expect the rad
zeal eyangelization of the masses, whilst
allowing the legalized liquor traffic to do
its deadly work unmolested. What would
be thought OF the business callbre OF the
merchant, who insisted upon the most
scrupulous honesty in some trivial matter
whilst he winked at the big stealings Of
favorite clerk What of the level-headed-
ness of the farmer, who was very diligent
in cultivating a small patch. whilst entire
ly negleeting broad acres? What of the
parents who doetored certain physical eff
feets in their children, whilst miasmatic
pools, spreading death and disease, sur
rounded their dwelling When will All
apathetic community and especially the
church Of Christ, use the same common
sense in dealing with the modern sum of all
yillanies, the legalized liquor traffic
that they exercise concerning other Affairs